ETA: My frustration wasn't at the ladies reacting like that... it was at the producers who take advantage of that urge/ point the camera at it/ make it look like yeah, that's what we people are like. Cuz, we're not.

Sadly, many of us ARE.

I gave up on human dignity pretty much five seconds after they invented "reality" tv. Back in the day when it was just Phil Donohue & Oprah, things were different. People didn't go batshit crazy. Springer was just the beginning. As soon as "reality" tv came along, all dignity went out the window. Then we had shit like Fear Factor. "Eat raw bull testicles for money!"

I was just reading that Katie Price/Jordan ditched out on I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! because all of Britain voted her for every single nasty trial they had for seven shows. She ingested all kinds of nasty shit to keep her name out there even though she's just a tired Page 3 titty model.

I'm not sure human dignity even exists anymore.

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"You're cute, like a velvet glove cast in iron. And like a gas chamber, a real fun gal."

Wait, Aural, are you saying it's the fact that it's FROM Oprah, like she touched it, that makes the object so amazing. A-ha.

Cuz I'm sure if her husband presented her with that same fridge, that same lady will do the neck-circle thing and list all the things he did wrong to make it only fair she's getting that fridge, and she'd act like a queen, just for the fun of it.So yes, I get the point. My bad.

Sorry I made a big deal of this - it's not. And. I love my iPhone and my toys. And I do sleep on a mattress with sheets;)

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Every story is a cup so empty it can be drunk from again and again. - MJH

They put on their best outfit, get their hair did, all so they can be seen for a few precious seconds on teevee with Oprah. This glamorous person they invite into their homes FIVE DAYS A WEEK is RIGHT . . . in . . . front OF THEM! They'll get to ask questions during the Q & Aaaaaay! They'll get to talk to OPRAH!*

Thank you for the explanation, Aural. It was still very icky to see, though. I get way more triggered into human dignity tirades by people being casually portrayed as object-craving zombies than by the infamous "encouraged" fights on Jerry Springer. The latter is still some sort of outlet. Call it ugly or trashy, feelings are being expressed and released. It's a form of catharsis. Training the cam on a lady's eyes rolling back in her head over a freebie - that IS disgusting - thank you, Candy. It's not even consumer porn, it's ideological snuff. Plus, I don't want the aliens watching Oprah to get the wrong impression of us earthlings.

ETA: My frustration wasn't at the ladies reacting like that... it was at the producers who take advantage of that urge/ point the camera at it/ make it look like yeah, that's what we people are like. Cuz, we're not.

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Every story is a cup so empty it can be drunk from again and again. - MJH

"Oprah's announcement that she will be leaving her daytime television outpost in 2011 after more than two decades seems to have opened the door for her best friend, Gayle King. An insider tells Page Six that King, currently editor-at-large at O magazine, is in talks with CBS to get her own show after Oprah goes off the air. King was given a syndicated talk show, "The Gayle King Show," in 2007, but it was canceled due to bad ratings. A rep for King did not respond to a request for comment."

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"You're cute, like a velvet glove cast in iron. And like a gas chamber, a real fun gal."

You know what's the most upsetting thing for me about this show? It's messing with human dignity.

Are they instructed to overreact? Or is it that a near cardiac arrest gives you a better chance to be on TV for 3 seconds? Cuz I know actual human beings don't get this kind of hysterical/ moaning/ grunting when getting a fridge.

Oddly, I think it's a little of both.

Every television show with a live audience has a warm-up person that often acts as a sort of fluffer during the actual taping. They get the crowd psyched up beforehand & try to keep that energy up & they do encourage the crowd to go nuts. And I bet they hand out free candy.

For a lot of the audience being on Oprah is one of the biggest things they'll ever do in their lives. People plan their vacations around going to see Oprah & I'd wager 98% of the crowd is female. They put on their best outfit, get their hair did, all so they can be seen for a few precious seconds on teevee with Oprah. This glamorous person they invite into their homes FIVE DAYS A WEEK is RIGHT . . . in . . . front OF THEM! They'll get to ask questions during the Q & Aaaaaay! They'll get to talk to OPRAH!*

*said in best Oprah voice.

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"You're cute, like a velvet glove cast in iron. And like a gas chamber, a real fun gal."

Seven, I used to love the "Favorite Things" episode until I saw the one you're talking about. It totally disgusted me. I mean, seriously, people screaming and crying over a fridge?! Really? I really can't think of a word other than disgusting to describe it.

You know what's the most upsetting thing for me about this show? It's messing with human dignity. I mean the reaction of the audience when she unveils that fridge thing. Don't know if it's me being raised in a more stoic ideology, but something about it is really upsetting. Are they instructed to overreact? Or is it that a near cardiac arrest gives you a better chance to be on TV for 3 seconds? Cuz I know actual human beings don't get this kind of hysterical/ moaning/ grunting when getting a fridge. I know there is poverty, I do, but still, even a very poor person cannot believe that this fridge will make their life so much better. This is a reaction to seeing your paraplegic son walk again. Or to seeing Jesus, alright. But NOT to getting a fridge.Yes, am a judgmental bitch, and no, I have not had a rich and spoiled life, but the fact that someone directs / allows these ladies to act religious in the presence of a fridge, that someone thinks this is good promotion for the show, is giving me this really creepy, uneasy, embarrassed for humanity feeling.

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Every story is a cup so empty it can be drunk from again and again. - MJH

"Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications to Form New Joint Venture: OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network OWN to Premiere in 2009."

Ugh.

QUOTE(auralpoison @ Nov 21 2009, 04:33 AM)

So many things about her gall me, but I think the weight issue galls me the most. Instead of embracing her body as it so clearly *wants* to be: bigger than the media norm of tall, slim, & white . . . she reinforces the negativity at every turn with her yo-yo dieting & her shows constantly whining about it & touting the "next big thing in fitness & health & BEING THIN". Look, if the RICHEST woman in the world that can afford all the doctors, private chefs, personal trainers, psychiatrists, lifestyle gurus, etc, etc, etc cannot love herself at her naturally plump, but HEALTHY weight, WTF are the rest of us supposed to do?

ITA.

Some of the mainstream celebs who have gained weight in the past (Jessica Simpson/Jennifer Love Hewitt ect) could have also used that as an opportunity to promote positive body image. Instead they fight the media scrutiny with "How they lost the weight" and posing on the latest Fit and Fabulous or whatever mag after they the lost the weight.I just wish that someday a well known influential mainstream celeb would jump off that super skinny is the only way bandwagon.

"Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications to Form New Joint Venture: OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network OWN to Premiere in 2009."

So many things about her gall me, but I think the weight issue galls me the most. Instead of embracing her body as it so clearly *wants* to be: bigger than the media norm of tall, slim, & white . . . she reinforces the negativity at every turn with her yo-yo dieting & her shows constantly whining about it & touting the "next big thing in fitness & health & BEING THIN". Look, if the RICHEST woman in the world that can afford all the doctors, private chefs, personal trainers, psychiatrists, lifestyle gurus, etc, etc, etc cannot love herself at her naturally plump, but HEALTHY weight, WTF are the rest of us supposed to do?

I also hate the way she talks. She puts weird emphasis in her speech that makes no sense.

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"You're cute, like a velvet glove cast in iron. And like a gas chamber, a real fun gal."

I'm just sick of her. All the things about "My Favorite Things," and leading housewies to believe that she has an empire. I recently saw something about her favorite jeans. They were over $200. Anyways, I hope Dr. Phil, Rachal Ray, and Dr. Oz go away with her. She also made Tyler Perry famous, and he annoys me.

I also love that Jonathan Frazen didn't go on her show for the whole book club thing. I read that she may be starting another network. Maybe this is why she's quitting.

Is it just Oprah who is finishing up her show, or will she take her claque with her? I'd like to see Dr. Phil go, all The Doctors, Doctor Oz, Rachel Ray...out with all of them. And may she roast in hell on a spit if she gives Sarah Palin a show, too.

Can't bloody believe she humiliated Frey for "plagiarism" in his memoirs, but now she's showcasing one of the biggest "embellished memoir" writers in the history of the USA.

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May suitable doses of guaranteed sensual pleasure and slow, long-lasting enjoyment preserve us from the contagion of the multitude who mistake frenzy for efficiency.

So The Oprah Winfrey Show is going off the air in 2011. what will the world do without her. who will give away cars? Who will tell us what to read? How will I know if I'm using the right lavender scented candles?